Cellules polyvalentes, 1960-1975

The multi-purpose pods launched a new way of thinking about modularity in architecture. Chanéac was convinced of the necessity of total industrialization, which would make it possible to reduce costs and increase productivity while allowing the user the possibility of remodeling his interior. To this end, he experimented with different materials and processes. Shunning any formal research, the first study for multi-purpose pods (1958-1960) comprised industrialized and standardized parallelepiped-shaped pods, shipped overland and capable of being set up within two hours. He then discovered the architectural possibilities of plastic materials and notably thermosetting ones reinforced with fiberglass, from which he hoped to be able to draw the necessary lyricism to counter the poverty of plastic and the architectural uniformity of his times. Chanéac proposed an adaptable layout of interlocking multi-purpose pods with plastic shells, joined to each other with no connecting parts. These pods were all identical and symmetrical, and presented large openings on all four sides, openings that were closed off by other elements, which themselves contained openings of different shapes, thereby creating windows and doors. Chanéac played with this diversity of openings to create a varied and attractive visual universe. The habitat would henceforth be a living organism: living area pods would proliferate and be freely adaptable around pods dedicated to traditional functions (i.e., kitchen, bathroom, etc.).